India to face Bangladesh in crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier in Shillong

In Football, the Indian national team will take on Bangladesh in the crucial third-round match of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, Meghalaya, this evening. The match will begin at 7 PM. The Blue Tigers are coming off a commanding 3-NIL victory over the Maldives in an international friendly last Wednesday. The victory also marked India’s first win under head coach Manolo Márquez. The Men in Blue will be eager to build on this momentum, having finally broken a 16-month winless streak.

In a pre-match press conference, coach Marquez



said that the team’s approach will remain consistent, regardless of whether they are playing against Bangladesh or Hong Kong. However, he stressed the importance of understanding both the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents.

India is placed in Group C of the final round of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers, alongside Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangladesh. The teams will compete in a home-and-away round-robin format until March 2026, with the group winners advancing to the AFC Asian Cup tournament in Saudi Arabia.